MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2015 Regular Session
To: Public Health and Human Services
By: Representative Mims
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 43-27-20, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE DUTIES OF THE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY SERVICES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICES TO REQUIRE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A STANDARDIZED RISK ASSESSMENT TOOL AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A GRADUATED SANCTIONS POLICY FOR USE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY BY SUPPORTING COMMUNITY AGENCIES; TO DELETE THE REPEALER ON THIS PROVISION OF LAW; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 43-27-20, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
43-27-20. ( * * *1) Within the Department of Youth
Services there shall be a Division of Community Services which shall be headed
by a director appointed by and responsible to the Director of the Department of
Youth Services. He shall hold a master's degree in social work or a related
field and shall have no less than three (3) years' experience in social
services, or in lieu of such degree and experience, he shall have a minimum of
eight (8) years' experience in social work or a related field. He shall employ
and assign the community workers to serve in the various areas in the state and
any other supporting personnel necessary to carry out the duties of the
Division of Community Services.
( * * *2) The Director of the Division of
Community Services shall assign probation and aftercare workers to the youth
court or family court judges of the various court districts upon the request of
the individual judge on the basis of case load and need, when funds are
available. The probation and aftercare workers shall live in their respective
districts except upon approval of the Director of the Division of Community
Services. The Director of the Division of Community Services is authorized to
assign a youth services counselor to a district other than the district in
which the youth services counselor lives upon the approval of the youth court
judge of the assigned district and the Director of the Division of Youth
Services. Every placement shall be with the approval of the youth court or the
family court judge, and a probation and aftercare worker may be removed for
cause from a youth or family court district.
( * * *3) Any counties or cities which, on
July 1, 1973, have court counselors or similar personnel may continue using
this personnel or may choose to come within the statewide framework.
( * * *4) A probation and aftercare worker
may be transferred by the division from one (1) court to another after
consultation with the judge or judges in the court to which the employee is
currently assigned.
( * * *5) The Division of Community Services
shall have such duties as the Department of Youth Services shall assign to it
which shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
( * * *a) Preparing the social, educational
and home-life history and other diagnostic reports on the child for the benefit
of the court or the training school; however, this provision shall not abridge
the power of the court to require similar services from other agencies,
according to law.
( * * *b) Serving in counseling capacities
with the youth or family courts.
( * * *c) Serving as probation agents for the
youth or family courts.
( * * *d) Serving, advising and counseling of
children in the various institutions under the control of the Division of
Juvenile * * *
Institutions as may be necessary to the placement of the children in proper
environment after release and the placement of children in suitable jobs where
necessary and proper.
( * * *e) Supervising and guiding of children
released or conditionally released from institutions under the control of the
Division of Juvenile * * *
Institutions.
( * * *f) Counseling in an aftercare program.
( * * *g) Coordinating the activities of
supporting community agencies which aid in the social adjustment of children
released from the institution and in an aftercare program.
( * * *h) Providing or arranging for
necessary services leading to the rehabilitation of delinquents, either within
the division or through cooperative arrangements with other appropriate
agencies.
( * * *i) Providing counseling and
supervision for any child under ten (10) years of age who has been brought to
the attention of the court when other suitable personnel is not available and
upon request of the court concerned.
( * * *j) Supervising the aftercare program
and making revocation investigations at the request of the court.
(k) Implementing a Standardized Risk Assessment Tool for use in the community by supporting community agencies.
(l) Developing a graduated sanctions policy for use within the community by supporting community agencies.
* * *
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2015.